Inside the National Gingerbread House Competition

Asheville, NC -- After having to go virtual in 2020, the National Gingerbread House Competition was back in person this year at the Omni Grove Park Inn. What began as a simple display in 1992 by a group of North Carolina locals has grown into the largest gingerbread house competition in the world. As the Grove Parks Susan Rotante puts it, "gingerbread is more than just a competition, it's a community." And they really do build an impressive environment to host this community. As soon as you step into the great hall, dubbed North Carolina's Great Living Room, you are met by a life-sized one-story tall gingerbread house. "In 2020 We had a virtual competition so what's really exciting about 2021 is that for the first time in two years -- we're so thrilled to bring the competitors back in person this year," said Rotante.

The event brings in a star-studded list of celebrity chefs and artists to judge the competition, including chef Carla Hall, formerly of ABC's "The Chew." "One of the things that I think of that makes this competition unique is that you start with the children and you go all the way up to the adults. And I've only been here four years but I've seen the progression of people going from one category to the next so I can actually see their progress which I love," said Hall.

This year's grand prize went to The Merry Mischief Bakers, who took first place in the adult category. This is their second consecutive first-place finish, and though based in Arizona, the team members live all across the country. "Our piece is Christmas 'Round the World, and it was a Christmas carousel. So the story of the carousel is that it's at Santa's workshop, and it's where the elves go to play on Christmas Day after all the toys that they have made have been delivered around the world. And the seven sets of animals represent the seven continents of the world where those toys were delivered," said team leader Ted Scutti.